Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.
If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.
If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).
Stop the implementation of betting affordability/financial risk checks
We want the Government to abandon the planned implementation of affordability checks for some people who want to place a bet. We believe such checks – which could include assessing whether people are ‘at risk of harm' based on their postcode or job title – are inappropriate and discriminatory.
Protect the UK's dwindling hedgehog population before it's too late.
Gov Responded - 19 Oct 2020 Debated on - 5 Jul 2021 View Chris Grayling's petition debate contributionsNow the hedgehog has been listed as vulnerable to extinction in the UK, we are calling on the Government to move hedgehogs to schedule 5 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 to allow them greater protection.
These initiatives were driven by Chris Grayling, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.
Chris Grayling has not been granted any Urgent Questions
Chris Grayling has not been granted any Adjournment Debates
A Bill to make provision about the international transport of goods by road; to make provision about the registration of trailers; and for connected purposes.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 19th July 2018 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to make provision about space activities and suborbital activities; and for connected purposes.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 15th March 2018 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to make provision about bus services; and for connected purposes
This Bill received Royal Assent on 27th April 2017 and was enacted into law.
To make provision about how offenders are dealt with before and after conviction; to amend the offence of possession of extreme pornographic images; to make provision about the proceedings and powers of courts and tribunals; to make provision about judicial review; and for connected purposes.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 12th February 2015 and was enacted into law.
To make provision about how offenders are dealt with before and after conviction; to amend the offence of possession of extreme pornographic images; to make provision about the proceedings and powers of courts and tribunals; to make provision about judicial review; and for connected purposes.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 12th February 2015 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to make provision about the release, and supervision after release, of offenders, to make provision about the extension period for extended sentence prisoners, to make provision about community orders and suspended sentence orders, and for connected purposes.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 13th March 2014 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to make provision about automated vehicles and electric vehicles.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 19th July 2018 and was enacted into law.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 10th May 2018 and was enacted into law.
To amend sections 71, 71A and 84 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982, and for connected purposes.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 16th November 2017 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to make provision as to matters to which a court must have regard in determining a claim in negligence or breach of statutory duty.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 12th February 2015 and was enacted into law.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 14th May 2014 and was enacted into law.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 28th February 2013 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to amend the law relating to capital and income in trusts.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 31st January 2013 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to promote the reform of the statute law by the repeal, in accordance with recommendations of the Law Commission and the Scottish Law Commission, of certain enactments which (except in so far as their effect is preserved) are no longer of practical utility.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 31st January 2013 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to amend the law relating to capital and income in trusts.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 31st January 2013 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to make provision for a railway between a junction with Phase One of High Speed 2, near Fradley Wood in Staffordshire, and a junction with the West Coast Main Line near Crewe in Cheshire; and for connected purposes.
A Bill to make provision for a railway between a junction with Phase One of High Speed 2, near Fradley Wood in Staffordshire, and a junction with the West Coast Main Line near Crewe in Cheshire; and for connected purposes.
A Bill to make provision about automated vehicles, electric vehicles, vehicle testing and civil aviation; to create an offence of shining or directing a laser at a vehicle; and to make provision about fees for courses offered as an alternative to prosecution for road traffic offences.
A Bill to regulate and limit the practice of bottom trawling in marine protected areas, and for connected purposes.
A Bill to require suppliers and retailers of fish and related products to establish and implement due diligence systems to ensure that those products are not obtained from illegal or unsustainable fishing; and for connected purposes.
A Bill to require banks and investment institutions regulated in the UK to verify and certify that they do not provide any form of financial or investment support to businesses which derive income from forest risk commodities, or that relevant local laws were complied with in relation to such commodities; and for connected purposes.
A Bill to require food manufacturers to label products to indicate the environmental sustainability of their origins; and for connected purposes
Horticultural peat (prohibition of sale) Bill 2023-24
Sponsor - Theresa Villiers (Con)
Aviation Banning Orders (Disruptive Passengers) Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Gareth Johnson (Con)
Public Houses (Electrical Safety) Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Andrew Rosindell (Con)
Death by Dangerous Driving (Sentencing) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Theresa May (Con)
Apologies Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - John Howell (Con)
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.
The Government will legislate for the inclusion of International Aviation and Shipping emissions in the Sixth Carbon Budget at the earliest opportunity, subject to Parliamentary scheduling.
I am pleased that the UK reached an agreement to take part in the Horizon Europe programme. Association to Horizon has been welcomed by businesses and the research community and will bring huge benefits to the UK.
The Government will be making available an additional £250m in 2021/22 for Horizon association. Also, £400m of funding announced at SR20 to support government priorities has been made available to help pay for our association to Horizon Europe. As a result, UK scientists will have access to more public funding than ever before.
This takes total Government investment in R&D to £14.9 billion in 2021/22 and follows four years of significant growth in R&D funding, including a boost of more than £1.5 billion in 2020/21. It will mean UK Government R&D spending is now at its highest level in four decades.
Unlike for domestic customers, energy suppliers are not obligated by their supply licence to offer a service to business customers. Contractual terms offered to businesses are a commercial matter for energy suppliers. An offer of a supply contract could depend upon a number of factors, such as the type of business, estimated amount and volatility of consumption, the customer’s credit score and length of contract required. We would encourage businesses to shop around to find the best deal.
Ofcom, as the independent regulator for telecoms, is responsible for regulating market power in the telecoms sector. Ofcom imposes a “no undue discrimination” requirement - which means Openreach must offer equivalence between all providers using its infrastructure unless Openreach is able to demonstrate that this is not possible.
If Openreach is able to demonstrate this, any difference must not put network users at a disadvantage, particularly in terms of extra cost, time or uncertainty compared to Openreach. Therefore, British Telecom is not permitted to offer full fibre broadband before other providers and it is Ofcom’s responsibility to ensure no provider gains an unfair competitive advantage after an installation.
Non-professional groups of up to six people can now sing indoors, and can perform or rehearse in groups of up to 30 outdoors. In addition, multiple groups of 30 can now sing outdoors, provided the groups are kept separate throughout the activity. This is an important step forward in the return of non-professional performing arts activity from Step 2.
It is important that we take a cautious approach in easing restrictions. We will continue to keep guidance and restrictions under review, in line with the changing situation. Further detail on step 4 will be set out as soon as possible.
Government has prioritised the safe return of sport including team sports, contact combat sports and organised sports participation events. Organised outdoor sport, such as Parkrun, is exempt from legal gathering limits and can take place with any number of participants, as long as undertaken in line with published COVID-secure guidance. As such, Parkrun has been able to take place since 29 March as part of Step 1 of the government’s response to the Covid-19 Roadmap.
I met with ParkRun on 21 April to discuss their concerns regarding their return and my officials have engaged extensively on this issue over the past year . In addition, I have also issued a letter of support to ParkRun which they have sent on to landowners, clearly acknowledging that these events can take place. I have also raised my support in the House and through social media.
I am committed to supporting them to return as soon as possible. and I appeal to local authorities and landowners to work constructively with park run organisers on the safe return of park runs.
Government recognises the significant impact of Covid-19 on young people, particularly the most vulnerable, and on the youth services that support them. A £16.5m Youth Covid-19 Support Fund has been announced which will protect the immediate future of grassroots and national youth organisations across the country.
This funding will be allocated from the Government’s unprecedented £750 million package of support which is benefiting tens of thousands of frontline charities, so they can continue their vital work. More than £60 million of this package has already been provided to organisations working with vulnerable children and young people.
The Youth Investment Fund remains a manifesto commitment for transformative levelling up across the country over the course of the parliament. In the recently announced Spending Review, £30m of this was committed as capital investment for 2021-22. This will provide a transformational investment in new and refurbished safe spaces for young people, so they can access support youth workers, and positive activities out of school, including sport and culture. Further details of the timetable for allocation will be announced in due course.
Under its last three funding rounds, the Darwin Initiative received applications from 915 organisations.
To robustly assess applications against published criteria, Defra requires technical experts with relevant experience and knowledge. If we were to prevent experts with links to these 915 organisations from joining the Darwin Expert Committee, we would significantly compromise the Committee's capability to technically assess and make recommendations to Defra.
This is why Defra put in place a robust conflicts of interest policy, where members are required to declare their interests and recuse themselves from the assessment of any application in which they have an interest.
Decisions on which Darwin Initiative grants to award are taken by Defra.
The Darwin Expert Committee technically assesses proposals and provides its' recommendations to Defra for consideration. Defra appoints new members to the Committee following an open and competitive recruitment process, based on their capabilities and technical expertise and not to represent the organisation for which they work.
To ensure the independence of the advice provided by the Committee, Defra has in place a robust conflicts of interest policy, where members are required to declare their interests and recuse themselves from the assessment of any application in which they have an interest. Under its last three funding rounds, the Darwin Initiative received applications from 915 organisations.
Darwin Extra applications are assessed by the Darwin Expert Committee which then makes recommendations to Defra on which grants to fund. The Answer of 19 December 2023 to Question 5477 noted that Darwin Expert Committee members have declared an interest in 13 of the 107 organisations awarded Darwin Initiative grants in the past 3 years. These 13 organisations were awarded Darwin Initiative grants with a combined value of £37.9m, which represents 49% of the £77m awarded under Rounds 27-29; these 13 organisations also unsuccessfully bid for a further £76.3m of grant funding in Rounds 27-29.
The Darwin Initiative requires an Expert Committee with up-to-date, practical knowledge of how to implement successful international development and conservation projects. Under its last three funding rounds, the Darwin Initiative received applications from 915 organisations. To not permit anyone with links to these organisations to serve on the Darwin Initiative’s Expert Committee could limit Defra’s ability to determine which proposed investments are most likely to succeed.
To ensure the independence of any advice provided by the Committee, Defra has in place a robust conflicts of interest policy, where members are required to declare their interests and recuse themselves from the assessment of any application in which they have an interest. Decisions on which Darwin Initiative grants to award are taken by Defra.
Responses were published on 19 December 2023.
The Darwin Initiative website details successful grants applications and names its Expert Committee members, alongside their associated organisations.
Darwin Expert Committee members have declared an interest in 13 of the 107 organisations awarded Darwin Initiative grants in the past 3 years. Committee members must recuse themselves from the assessment of any application in which they have declared an interest.
The 13 organisations are: Bangor University, Botanic Gardens Conservation International, C3 Philippines, Fauna and Flora International, International Institute for Environment and Development, Royal Botanical Gardens Edinburgh, Royal Botanical Gardens Kew, The Nature Conservancy, United Nations Environment Programme, University of Oxford, Wildlife Conservation Society, World Wide Fund for Nature UK and the Zoological Society of London.
The UK Government has introduced world-leading due diligence legislation through the Environment Act to help tackle illegal deforestation in UK supply chains.
We ran a consultation from 3 December 2021 to 11 March 2022 to seek views on the details of regulations that will implement the Environment Act provisions, to ensure that these are designed effectively.
The Government published a summary of responses to this consultation on 1 June 2022 and is committed to implementing due diligence provisions at the earliest opportunity through secondary legislation.
Highly Protected Marine Areas are areas of the sea which will prohibit all destructive, extractive, and depositional activities, including bottom trawling. The Government announced it will explore additional Highly Protected Marine Areas this year.
We will also continue to ban bottom trawling in our Marine Protected Areas wherever that is needed to protect the designated species and habitats. The Marine Management Organisation recently consulted on a byelaw to manage fishing using bottom towed gear in a further 13 sites and is now analysing the responses received.
The Government Food Strategy set out our commitment to deliver a sustainable and nature positive food system. Improving sustainability information is one of the ways we can support consumers who want to buy more sustainable food, tackle greenwashing and the proliferation of different labels on products to help to meet our climate and environmental goals. We have launched a Food Data Transparency Partnership which will develop a mandatory methodology that must be followed by those who want to use eco-labels or make sustainability claims about their products. We are working closely with industry and other technical experts, and will build on existing initiatives and schemes to develop our proposal, and will consult publicly on our plans in due course.
Defra recently consulted on five candidate pilot Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs). The consultation closed on 28 September. The responses are currently being analysed and will inform the Secretary of State's decision on whether pilot sites should be designated and if so, what their final site boundaries should be. Any pilot HPMAs would be designated through the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 by 6 July 2023. This would be a year from the start of the consultation as required by the Act.
Concerns about environmental impacts of Third Generation (3G) synthetic surfaces regarding runoff to watercourses and into groundwater have been previously raised with the Environment Agency however there is currently limited evidence to substantiate these concerns.
3G synthetic surfaces often contain rubber crumb. This rubber crumb may be derived from waste materials, which can be permitted as a non-waste product under the Quality Protocol for Tyre Derived Rubber Material. Quality protocols seek to ensure recycled materials are handled correctly to be used with minimised environmental impacts. The Environment Agency is conducting a routine review of this Quality Protocol to ensure it reflects current uses in products, remains fit for purpose and takes account of the latest available evidence.
Within the Food Strategy the Government announced its policy position towards sustainable food labelling.
Through the Food Data Transparency Programme (FDTP), we will develop consistent and defined metrics to objectively measure the health, environmental sustainability, and animal welfare impacts of food.
We will work with stakeholders to create a common framework of metrics which the food and drink industry must follow when making voluntary information available to consumers regarding their food's emission and sustainability claims.
This mandatory methodology will be for participating companies to consistently follow, providing a common standard where eco-information is voluntarily used should they choose to include such information on their products.
The report has been published on gov.uk and can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/global-resource-initiative-taskforce.
The Joint Nature Conservation Committee's (JNCC) seventh Quinquennial Review report was submitted to ministers on 19 April. It provides ministers with independent scientific advice on proposed changes to Schedules 5 and 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act. We will consider the recommendations carefully before publishing JNCC's advice later this year. We will consider the report alongside the responses from the Nature Green Paper consultation before any decisions are made.
This Government is committed to halting the decline in species abundance by 2030, through a world-leading legally binding target under the Environment Act. We will shortly be publishing a Green Paper to look at how we can drive the delivery of that target, including through our sites and protections for species, such as the hedgehog. Other actions under the Environment Act are likely to support species like hedgehogs, such as biodiversity net gain for development including nationally significant infrastructure projects. Local Nature Recovery Strategies will also help identify and drive local actions to protect and recover species at a scale that will be beneficial to species such as the hedgehog. Our new environmental land management schemes will pay for sustainable farming practices, creating and preserving habitat such as such as woodland, heathland and species-rich grassland, as well as making landscape-scale environmental changes, all of which could benefit species such as hedgehog.
The Government is currently undertaking significant work in this area to improve the evidence base and address current evidence gaps which will help to inform our policy priorities. For example, specific impacts of environmental labelling on consumers' purchasing behaviour are less well known, so Defra has commissioned consumer insights work to strengthen this evidence area. This will aid better understanding towards the efficacy of eco-labelling on consumer buying preferences and assist in identifying whether environmental labelling leads to more sustainable supply chains, in alignment with reducing the UK's emissions targets.
We want to empower consumers with more effective information to help them make healthier, greener, and more sustainable choices in their diet and are reviewing how food information can be improved - such as through improved labelling - so consumers can make more informed decisions while maintaining freedom of choice.
Elsewhere, we are working with the Environment Agency on its SEEBEYOND project which is looking at the standardisation of metrics in the food and drink sector.
Plastic waste is a commodity which is traded on a legitimate global market. The export of plastic waste is subject to strict controls set out in UK legislation. Businesses involved in the export of waste are required to take all necessary steps to ensure that the waste they ship is managed in an environmentally sound manner throughout its shipment and during its recycling. Individuals and businesses found to be exporting waste in contravention of the requirements of the legislation can face a two-year jail term and an unlimited fine.
The Government does, however, want to deal with more of our waste at home and that is why we have committed to banning the export of plastic waste to countries which are not members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. The Environment Act contains a power that will enable us to deliver on this commitment and we plan to consult by the end of this year on options to deliver the ban.
The Government is committed to a package of measures to tackle deforestation in our supply chains.
In 2019, the Government asked an independent task force, the Global Resource Initiative (GRI), to provide recommendations on how to reduce the UK's global environmental footprint, with a focus on deforestation. The GRI published its report and 14 recommendations in March 2020.
In response, we have introduced world-leading due diligence legislation through the Environment Act to tackle illegal deforestation in UK supply chains. Our law will make it illegal for larger businesses in the UK to use key forest risk commodities produced on land illegally occupied or used. We launched a consultation on 3 December 2021 to seek views on the detail of regulations that will implement the Environment Act provisions, to ensure that we design them effectively.
The Government also funds and convenes the UK Roundtables on Sustainable Palm Oil and Soy, which bring together UK businesses and provide technical assistance and support to businesses committed to reducing deforestation in these supply chains.
In addition, the Government will lead by example in the procurement of sustainable forest risk commodities. Our consultation to update the Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering Services, taking place early this year, will propose ambitious new requirements that champion legal and sustainably sourced foods.
Wildlife not only plays an important role in the health and abundance of our nation's natural resources but also assumes a crucial role in England's agricultural success. Defra has ensured that we have a policy package that includes both legal protections and funding enhancements. This dual approach supports the Government's deep commitment to the environment, reflected in the goals we have set through the 25 Year Environment Plan. Defra will support farmers in turning over fields to meadows rich in herbs and wildflowers, planting more trees, restoring habitats for endangered species, recovering soil fertility and attracting our wildlife back.
Following our exit from the EU, farmers and land managers continue to be required to comply with domestic legislation, including compliance with regulations that cover water courses, hedgerows, buffer strips for fertiliser and manure application. Farmers and land managers must comply with these regulations even after rules that relate to CAP payments cease to have effect.
Legal protection for hedgerows is provided by the Hedgerows Regulations 1997. These regulations prohibit the removal of most, or parts of, countryside hedgerows without first seeking approval from the local planning authority. We also currently have regulations which protect water courses under the Farming Rules for Water.
Regarding funding, the Countryside Stewardship scheme offers farmers funding for creating buffer strips on cultivated land. These grassy buffer strips not only create new habitat and prevent pollutants (such as pesticides and sediment) from entering aquatic systems, they also provide wildlife with much needed corridors to link existing habitat areas and aid dispersal.
Signing a Countryside Stewardship agreement over the next 2-3 years gives farmers and land managers a viable, long-term source of income for providing environmental benefits. Those who sign up to new Countryside Stewardship agreements will also be well-placed in the future to participate in our new Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme, subject to successfully applying.
Additionally, under the ELM scheme, due to launch in 2024 as the cornerstone of our new agricultural policy, farmers and other land managers may enter into agreements to be paid for delivering public goods, including thriving plants and wildlife.
The total agricultural area in 2019 was 9,604,512 hectares in England and 18,848,943 hectares in the UK.
The utilised agricultural area accounts for 94% (9,059,462 hectares) of the total agricultural area in England and 93% (17,531,535 hectares) in the UK.
The utilised agricultural area includes all arable and horticultural crops, uncropped arable land, common rough grazing, temporary and permanent grassland and land used for outdoor pigs. It excludes woodland and other non-agricultural land (such as tracks, ponds and yards).
This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only. The total area in England of non-developed land (agricultural, forest and open land only), which may be available for conversion to agricultural, forestry, moorland or other countryside uses, is 10,910,678 hectares (based on 2018 MHCLG Land Use data, the latest available). A proportion of this land will already comprise species rich or protected habitats or high grades of agricultural land so may not be suitable for conversion to other uses.
Marine protection is a devolved matter and the information provided relates to England only.
The impact a fishing vessel has on a Marine Protected Area is determined by how damaging the fishing method is, rather than the size of the vessel. 'Supertrawlers' generally target pelagic species of fish within the water column and are unlikely to damage the seabed habitats, such as reef and sediment habitats, for which most Marine Protected Areas are designated.
A new power proposed in the Fisheries Bill will allow the Marine Management Organisation to protect offshore Marine Protected Areas from damaging fishing activity. We are prioritising those Marine Protected Areas most at risk and aim to make rapid progress as soon as the transition period ends.
Our Fisheries Bill prohibits any commercial fishing vessel from fishing in UK waters without a licence. It also provides powers to attach conditions (such as the areas that can be fished, species that can be caught and the type of fishing gear that can be used) to fishing vessel licences. Foreign vessels operating in UK waters will have to follow UK rules, including the conditions that are attached to their commercial fishing licence.
Between 2014 and 2024 the Government is investing over £66 million to crack down on the illegal trade of animals and plants, including activities to train rangers in Africa to help communities protect their wildlife from poaching.
We remain fully committed to protecting biodiversity and preventing the loss of species, which is why we are looking carefully at how we can contribute to the international response to the Covid-19 pandemic. This includes through our well respected Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund which has committed over £26 million to 85 projects since it was launched in 2014. The latest round opened for applications on 22 May 2020 and is available to support projects that respond to the emerging impacts of Covid-19 on the illegal trade in wildlife.
The Forestry Commission produces statistics annually on woodland area in England but not by tree numbers. These are Official Statistics produced to meet the standards of the Code of Practice for Statistics. Woodland area statistics can be found on the Forest Research web site together with background information at https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/statistics/forestry-statistics/
The below figures are reported in Forestry Statistics and use data from the National Forest Inventory:
Year at 31 March | Thousand Hectares
| |
|
|
1989 | 1,201 |
1994 | 1,224 |
1999 | 1,246 |
2004 | 1,272 |
2009 | 1,288 |
2014 | 1,302 |
2019 | 1,308 |
Source: Forestry Statistics 2019 |
Defra has not made an estimate of the effect of the rise in badger population on the number of hedgehog in England. However, we are aware of research by the National Wildlife Management Centre and others in 2014 which demonstrated that badger removal had positive impacts on hedgehog numbers within grassland sites.
The Department continues to commend work, including research, by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society and the People’s Trust for Endangered Species, such as their Conservation Strategy for Hedgehogs. Under our 25 Year Environment Plan, we are committed to creating or restoring 500,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat to provide benefits for species such as the hedgehog. Agri-environment schemes such as Countryside Stewardship provide funding to restore, extend and link important habitats and boost food resources for our native species.
The total budgets allocated to the international forestry projects listed in the Answer of 12 March 2020 are provided in the table below.
Project | Duration of funding | Total budget allocated |
Nepal Multi-Stakeholder Forestry Programme | 2011-2016 | £16,124,703 |
Forest Governance, Markets and Climate (Global) | 2011-2023 | £280,000,000 |
Investments in Forests and Sustainable Land Use (Global) | 2015-2023 | £ 102,596,352 |
International Forestry Knowledge programme (Global) | 2012-2017 | £36,987,765 |
Forestry, Land-use and Governance in Indonesia | 2015-2020 | £32,549,986 |
Improving Livelihoods and Land Use in Congo Basin Forests | 2015-2020 | £15,260,720 |
Green Economic Growth for West Papua (Indonesia) | 2016-2022 | £11,512,311 |
Supporting a Sustainable Future for West Papua’s Forests (Indonesia) | 2018-2020 | £6,200,000 |
Total |
| £501,231,837 |
The international forestry projects receiving funding since 2016 are as follows:
In addition, DFID supports forestry projects through its grant contributions to two multilateral funds, the Global Environment Facility and Green Climate Fund.
Tackling climate change and environmental degradation are key priorities for DFID and this Government. At UNCAS in September, the PM announced a new £220m International Biodiversity Fund and that the UK will double our international climate finance to £11.6bn between 2021-2025, helping developing countries to take action in these areas.
DFID supports activities related to re-greening in various areas. This includes forestry, where DFID contributes to the UK’s efforts to protect biodiversity, reduce carbon emissions and support the livelihoods of communities reliant on forests and agriculture. Between 2016-2019, DFID provided grants totalling £211 million (bi-lateral and multi-lateral) for international forestry projects.
The UK is also doubling its International Climate Finance to at least £11.6 billion over the period 2021-2025 to help developing countries take action on climate change. This will include a major uplift to support nature-based solutions to climate change.
All goods that require an export licence are assessed against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria on a case-by-case basis. The Export Control Joint Unit, which is responsible for export licensing in my Department, refuses only a very small proportion of export licence applications, but we will not grant an export licence if to do so would be inconsistent with the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria.
The Secretary of State for International Trade has had no discussions at the World Trade Organisation on the level of international tariffs on forest risk commodities.
The Department continues to support the Government’s ongoing work to promote the sustainable trade in forest risk commodities, and is considering the role of the WTO and other fora in this effort.
Ministers and officials engage regularly with stakeholders to understand the opportunities and challenges to increasing trade and investment with the region, including at a Mercosur-focused roundtable discussion with businesses chaired by my Hon. Friend the Minister for International Trade last July, and on a visit to Uruguay in September. In November, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade discussed collaboration on trade and health with Argentina's Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero. On Tuesday, the Secretary of State spoke with her Brazilian counterpart Roberto Fendt to discuss opportunities to improve our trade. The Secretary of State and I look forward to further engagement around the next UK-Brazil JETCO later this year.
A list of traffic signs that have been approved by the Department, but are not prescribed in the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions, 2016, as amended, and require approval by the Secretary of State for Transport, are shown in the table below:
NP 409 & NP 409.1 VARIABLE SPEED LIMIT START/END |
NP 419 TIMES OF OPERATION OF HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLE LANE AHEAD |
NP 420 DEFINITION OF HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLE LANE |
NP 420.1 DEFINITION OF HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLE LANE - NO HGVs OVER 7.5T |
NP 420.2 DEFINITION OF HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLE LANE - NO HGVs |
NP 421 HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLE LANE AHEAD |
NP 423 RISK OF LORRIES OVERTURNING ON ADVERSE CAMBER |
NP 426 ROAD NUMBER AND REFERENCE |
NP 428 & 428.1 START AND END OF FOOTWAY PARKING PROHIBITION |
NP 428.2 FOOTWAY PARKING PROHIBITION REPEATER SIGN |
NP 429 EMERGENCY ACCESS |
NP 430 STOP FOR CONVOY |
NP 431 WAIT HERE FOR CONVOY |
NP 432 NEW ROAD SURFACE |
NP 433 LOW EMISSION ZONE |
NP 545RM ROAD MARKING - CHILDREN |
NP 622.11 TUNNEL CLASSIFICATION PLATE |
NP 818.4A DANGEROUS GOODS PROHIBITED |
NP 829.8 ACCIDENT SLOW |
NP 829.9 ACCIDENT USE HARD SHOULDER |
NP 829.10 EMERGENCY SERVICES TRAINING |
NP 958.2 HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLE LANE AHEAD |
NP 958.6 OFF SIDE BUS LANE AHEAD |
NP 958.7 OFF SIDE HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLE LANE AHEAD |
NP 958.9 BUS, LORRY AND MOTOR CYCLE LANE AHEAD |
NP 958.10 OFF SIDE BUS ONLY LANE AHEAD |
NP 958.11 NEAR SIDE BUS ONLY LANE AHEAD |
NP 958.12 BUS, AUTHORISED VEHICLES AND MOTOR CYCLE LANE AHEAD |
NP 958.13 BUS AND AUTHORISED VEHICLES LANE AHEAD |
NP 958.14 OFF SIDE BUS AND AUTHORISED VEHICLES LANE AHEAD |
NP 958.15 OFF SIDE BUS AND MOTORCYCLE LANE AHEAD |
NP 959.2 HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLE LANE |
NP 959.5 OFF SIDE BUS LANE, CYCLE AND TAXI |
NP 959.6 BUS AND LORRY LANE |
NP 959.7 BUS, LORRY AND MOTOR CYCLE LANE |
NP 959.8 OFF SIDE BUS ONLY LANE |
NP 959.9 NEAR SIDE BUS ONLY LANE |
NP 959.10 BUS, AUTHORISED VEHICLES AND MOTOR CYCLE LANE |
NP 959.11 BUS AND AUTHORISED VEHICLES LANE |
NP 959.12 OFF SIDE BUS AND MOTOR CYCLE LANE |
NP 960.4 CONTRA-FLOW BUS, CYCLE AND TAXI LANE |
NP 962.3 HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLE LANE ON ROAD AT JUNCTION AHEAD |
NP 962.5 BUS AND MOTORCYCLE LANE ON ROAD AT JUNCTION AHEAD |
NP 2919.2 MOTORWAY LORRY ONLY SERVICE AREA AHEAD |
NP 3015 WIG-WAG SIGNAL |
NP MW TOLL MOTORWAY (PERMANENT) : 'Toll' |
NS 56A DIVERSION ROUTE SYMBOL |
NS 66 HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLE LANE |
NS 68 OVERTURNING LORRY |
NS 70 PARKING PLACE PARTIALLY OR WHOLLY ON VERGE OR FOOTWAY |
NS 74 VEHICLE CARRYING DANGEROUS GOODS |
S 68 CLEAN AIR ZONE |
NP 551.3 SMALL WILD ANIMALS |
NP 2514 PARK ACTIVE |
NP 1028.7 E-SCOOTER BAY MARKING |
A local authority needs to seek the approval of the Secretary of State for Transport for the use of any traffic signs that are not prescribed in the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions, 2016, as amended.
Local authorities may install the toad crossing warning sign only during the migratory period at a site which is approved by the Froglife Trust. The wild fowl warning sign may be installed where birds are habitually found in the road near ponds and watercourses. Both signs are prescribed in The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 and need no further approval.
South Western Railway (SWR) has provided an increase in peak service between Epsom and London Waterloo from Monday 17 May, this represents an increase on previous service provision. SWR is currently running at 85% of pre-COVID levels, a 13% increase on the pre-17th May Timetable. Service levels will continue to be reviewed regularly to ensure the capacity provided continues to meet the demand.
The Airport and Ground Operations Support Scheme (AGOSS) opened for applications on 29 January to provide support for eligible commercial airports and ground handlers in England. It will provide support up to the equivalent of their business rates liabilities or COVID-19 losses – whichever is lower – in the 2020/21 financial year, subject to certain conditions and a cap per claimant of £8m.
Grant payments made to successful applicants can be applied toward costs which are essential to enable the operation of a commercial airport or ground handling operations and falls within the list of eligible expenditure. Payments are not limited to use on business rates cost only.
All local authorities in England are already able to install School Streets, as they consist of standard traffic management measures readily available to them.
The Active Travel Fund, announced on 9 May, is providing £225 million to local authorities to help them make changes to their road layouts to encourage active travel. Alongside this, the Department published additional Network Management Duty guidance providing advice on what changes the Government expected local authorities to make. School Streets are one of the measures listed.
‘Gear Change: A bold vision for cycling and walking’, published on 28 July, also includes a commitment to create more School Streets, to help deliver the ambition that half of all journeys in urban areas should be walked or cycled.
In April 2020 Local Housing Allowance rates were set at the 30th percentile of local rents, costing nearly £1 billion and providing - on average - 1.5 million households with an increase of £600 per year.
I can also confirm that the increase to Local Housing Allowance rates will be maintained in cash terms in the next financial year, to continue supporting our claimants to manage housing costs.